Word from the Chairman
Well, it seems that spring is certainly here and many of you will have no doubt returned to work bathed in sunshine after the Easter break. Could the weather be a sign that things are starting to look a bit brighter on the economic front? Only time will tell. In the meantime, all we can do is try to carry on business as usual, and that’s exactly what we have been doing at Birmingham Future. Times are indeed tough out there but hopefully we have been able to provide a little light relief from the daily grind with the recent events we have held, including the Meet & Mix lunch at Piccolino’s, with more than 100 members attending. If you missed it, you can read about it further on. Other successful events during the month included our first speaker lunch of 2009, with Julia Middleton, chief executive of Common Purpose, and an update on the Colmore Business Improvement District (BID) with Gary Cardin of Drivers Jonas and Richard Brennan, chief executive of Birmingham Forward. The big event, however, is BYPY, of which we are now in the advanced stages. The finalists have been announced and the special guest compère has been unveiled (see below). All that’s left to do now is get everyone there. Tickets are on sale and can be bought by contacting Isabel Drabble at Birmingham Future on 0121 632 2204 or by email: isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk. 500 have already been sold so hurry to book yours and don't miss out on one of Birmingham's best awards dinners. I’ll see you there!
News & Events
Future Focus
We’ve been very good to you this month and managed to get an exclusive interview with Birmingham Post Editor Marc Reeves as part of the Future Focus series of interviews. Marc is a very important and influential voice in the City and a great supporter of Birmingham Future. Read the interview in full on the blog.
BYPY: They’ve got their seats – have you got yours?
The finalists have been chosen and Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) 2009 is drawing ever closer. The judging panel has left the 18 finalists on the edge of their seats until 4 June when the winners will be announced at a swanky awards ceremony at the ICC. The short listed candidates include creative brains Rob Langley of BCMG, Suzie Branch of BHMG and Aimee Postle of Kinetic Communications. In the Financial category Graham Nicoll of Barclays Wealth, Paul Fielding of Brewin Dolphin and Sunita Mistry of BHSF have made it through to the final stages of the competition. Sarah Kenyon of Mills & Reeve, Imogen Noons of DLA Piper and Claire-Elaine Arthurs of HBJ Gateley Wareing are the contenders for the Legal category, while Rebecca Lawrence of eNL Legal Recruitment, Nicola Masters of Namiscas and Ollie Purdom of Pitch Consultants are going head to head in the Recruitment and Training sector. Ian Shaw of Turner & Townsend Plc, Jeremy Brim of EC Harris LLP and Chris Hill of Mace Group will fight it out in the Property and Construction category, and Damien Deighan of Altruist Medical will take on Jo Sheridan of Empty Creative and Stephanie Chamberlain of Magic Milestones in the Entrepreneurial category. Read more about the judging day on the Future blog. Tickets are selling fast so if you want to make sure you’re sitting pretty for BYPY 2009 contact Isabel Drabble at the Birmingham Future office on 0121 632 2204 or via emailIsabel@birminghamforward.co.uk.
BYPY: Iconic designer Wayne Hemingway to compère event
Wayne Hemingway, one of the UK’s most iconic and recognisable designers, will compère this year’s Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) Awards, sponsored by Cobbetts LLP. Wayne co-founded the fashion label Red or Dead with his wife Gerardine, a brand that saw them named “Street Style Designer of the Year” three years in a row in the 1990s. The couple sold Red or Dead after 21 consecutive seasons at London Fashion Week in 1999. Wayne is a sought after speaker across the UK and beyond. He also remains in the public eye as a regular design commentator on television and radio. Such is Wayne’s appeal, he will also play an exclusive DJ set straight after the awards have been handed out. An accomplished disc-spinner, he regularly DJs with his own massive collection of Northern Soul, disco and funk records at charity events and festivals, including Bestival.
Membership Committee News
The membership committee has been working hard to encourage more young professionals to join Birmingham Future, and is planning a series of presentations for firms across the city. If you would like a member of the committee to give a presentation at your workplace please get in touch with membership committee deputy chair Jason Norris janorris@deloitte.co.uk. The committee is also working on a new poster which we hope you’ll put up in your workplace when it’s ready. If you have any colleagues who are keen to join Birmingham Future, get them to fill out an application form today.
We are also looking for potential venues for events – if you are able to provide a room and refreshments please let Isabel know at isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk.
Sponsors of the Future bulletin…
Starting this month Birmingham Future’s e-bulletin is offering the opportunity for organisations within the Birmingham area to sponsor our monthly e-bulletin. This is a great opportunity for businesses to reach our members in a concise and unobtrusive manner. If you or a client or contact would be interested in being a sponsor of Future’s e-bulletin, as Birmingham City Council’s ‘Golf Birmingham’ campaign has this month, then please contact Rob Langley, Birmingham Future Marketing & Communications committee chairman rob@bcmg.org.uk.
(Birmingham Future does not share any of its members' personal details with third parties.)
Making terrible tea… an update from Graduate Apprentice Mayur Murali:
Mayur Murali, Graduate Apprentice 2008 is almost at the end of his second placement with property management firm LMM. The second placement has been an enlightening one for Mayur, and as Birmingham Future begin the process to pick the fourth Graduate Apprentice, the Blog caught Mayur in a reflective mood…
"With over half my year as the Graduate Apprentice now gone, and applications for next year’s candidates already undergoing analysis for my replacement, I’m beginning to feel a bit like yesterday’s news! It’s like a giant Countdown clock is hanging over my head, tick-tocking away the seconds 'till the giant bong sounds, and I’m ingloriously dethroned, thrown aside as an over-the-hill has been. Rather melodramatic of course… It’s been brought on by the impending conclusion of my time at LMM, and the beginnings of grown-up hangovers, which really make a night out much harder work than they ever were as a student. However, I still have a whole new chapter to begin at VC Consulting in May, and this got me thinking about what I’ve achieved at my LMM placement, and what I can hope to learn at VC…. " Continues on the Future blog.
Common Purpose Navigator programme ... for emerging leaders
In these difficult times, which are new to many emerging leaders, we're asking more and more of our people and this programme can really help not only develop and motivate but also retain key people, which will be important for so many organisations when we start to come out of the recession.
It features a diverse participant group, from across the West Midlands, experiential learning through real-life challenges, leadership insights and behind the scenes visits. It takes place in June and is residential, split across two weeks (17-19 June and 29-30 June).
It is a dynamic and fast-moving learning experience, which covers the key themes of risk, leadership, power, change and vision. Participants can expect to practice a vast range of competencies, including:
- negotiating and influencing
- multi-disciplinary team-working
- working with change and innovation
- holistic problem-solving
- solution-based reasoning
- engaging with diversity
The programme allows participants to:
- get an unparalleled view of the world they inhabit
- build a diverse network of peers
- challenge the status quo
- spot opportunities for their own organisations by identifying transferable ideas and good practice.
For further information contact: Louise Teboul, Common Purpose, 0121 625 3269, emaillouise.teboul@commonpurpose.org.uk, or visit www.commonpurpose.org.uk.
Recent Events
Speaker lunch with Julia Middleton Filini restaurant at the Radisson SAS Hotel was the venue for this year’s first Speaker Lunch. Following half an hour of networking, members and their guests sat down to listen to speaker, Julia Middleton, founder and CEO of Common Purpose.
Common purpose was set up in 1989 and runs a unique leadership development programme in 12 countries. The programme aims to train the “leaders of tomorrow” and give them the skills they need to be more involved in shaping the future of the area in which they live and work, with the ultimate goal of integrating more businesses into the society that surrounds them.
Lunch was kicked off with a combination of asparagus and poached egg, followed by slow cooked marinated lamb and finally chocolate fondant. A good start to the year for the ever successful Birmingham Future Speaker Lunches.
Forthcoming Events
Birmingham Future Pub Quiz!
Apres, 39 Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JJ. Monday 11th May 2009: 18.00hrs for 18.30 start until approx 21.00hrs. Following on from our hugely successful Birmingham Pub Quiz last year, Birmingham Future is proud to present this year’s quiz offering for the great minds of its membership. Come and put your knowledge to the test at our Pub Quiz night! This is a great chance to show what you know (or don’t) about a variety of subjects, with six question rounds and famous faces.The event will cost £20.00 +VAT (£23.00 inc VAT) per person to include pizzas to share and 2 complimentary drinks, credit card payments are welcome. Please note that you do not need to book as a team and to promote networking, teams will be allocated on the evening.Please specify any dietary requirements prior to the event, so that the necessary arrangements can be made. To book e-mail: laura@birminghamforward.co.uk.
“How to fast track your career”
MWB Business Exchange. Tuesday 19th May 2009: 17.45hrs for 18.15 start until 19.45hrs
Our next Successful Development Workshop is being held at 5.45pm on Tuesday 19th May. In the current economic climate, perhaps more so than ever, you have to plan ahead to achieve what you want in your career and this workshop is about helping you to achieve those goals.
We present to you Royston Guest, who is an internationally renowned business strategist and speaker, specialising in growing businesses and unlocking people potential. As CEO of Pti International, Royston is an advisor, consultant and executive coach to a diverse portfolio of clients including many FTSE 100 businesses and is the author of a number of e-books as well as writing a fortnightly e-zine read by individuals in 37 countries around the globe.
The ‘HOW TO FAST TRACK YOUR CAREER WORKSHOP” provides you with practical, down-to- earth tips and techniques to enable you with a solid platform for fulfilling your career goals, through listening learning and most importantly…ACTION!
This event is kindly being hosted by MWB Birmingham whose offices are in Temple Row. The event will cost £20.00 + VAT (£23.00 inc VAT). If you would like to join us on the evening please email laura@birminghamforward.co.uk.
Featured member benefit
Benjamin Ryan Hair is an award winning salon and one of the most exciting establishments in the city for beautifying yourself. We are very pleased to announce that they are offering all Future Members 30% off all services during Monday - Thursday opening hours. This is an ongoing offer which Future members can make the most of by simply mentioning Future when booking. (the salon will verify your membership with the Future team, but your details will not be shared with any third party).
To celebrate the launch of this new offer Benjamin Ryan are offering one lucky Future Member the opportunity to win a full hair service, including a colour, cut and blow dry (to be taken Monday to Thursday.)
To enter this competition simply email your name and contact details to: rob@bcmg.org.uk by Friday 8 May. All emails will be printed off and put into a hat (or other bowl like prop) and a winner will be drawn at random by a third party, impartial adjudicator.
The winner will be announced in next month's bulletin.
Out and about with Lise-Ann
These boots were made for walking...
Well spring has officially sprung and I have embraced the fact by getting my walking boots out and exploring the beauty of the Warwickshire countryside. One of the many things I love about living in Birmingham is how quickly you can go from the hustle and bustle of our vibrant city to the tranquil calm of the countryside.
Read Lise-Ann’s full Out and About story on the blog.
Sponsors feature: Try something new. Play golf!
You don't have to be sporty or experienced to play golf - anyone can enjoy it. Golf tuition is available throughout the year for all ages and abilities. Equipment can be hired at a low cost if you don't have any. You can play at any of the seven public golf courses within Birmingham's Golf Link circuit. Enjoy gentle exercise and good company in pleasant surroundings.
If you have never played before, the Golf Pro will be able to introduce you to playing a few rounds. It's great fun to learn with friends or family, so why not book a free taster session? Visit www.golfbirmingham.co.uk for more details or call 0121 464 2012.
- No joining fees
- Pay as you play
- No expertise or expensive equipment hire
A different kind of afternoon tee. Why not get together with friends to enjoy an afternoon game of golf? £12 after 2pm (£10 after 12 noon in winter).
Birmingham Future, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD Telephone: +44 (0)121 632 2200 Fax: +44 (0)121 632 2201
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